Peter Ustinov: The Gift of Laughter [Paperback]

John Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2003

Actor, playwright, director, novelist, wit, and raconteur, Peter Ustinov is a show business polymath. He wrote his first play before he was 20, and has since had more than a dozen produced, three of which were later filmed. As an actor his films include Spartacus and Topkapi, for which he won an Academy Award, and he has more recently directed operas in every major opera house in Europe. His one-man show, An Evening with Peter Ustinov was hit in London and on Broadway.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Peter Ustinov was in London last month to celebrate the publication of his autobiography and he was kept very busy with events and interviews.Events included:Platform performance at the National Theatre on 12 September, with John Miller - this was followed by a reception for Sir Peter's friends, family andselected booksellersAn Oldie Literary Lunch with John Miller and Dickie Birdon 10 September (and we've had diary stories in the Daily Mail (x2), Independent (x2) and Daily Telegraph about this as well as a cartoon in the Times).ADaily Mail Literary Lunch with A.N. Wilson on 11th September. Radio interviews were fixed up with:Front Row (BBC Radio 4) on 7th SeptemberRadio 2 Arts programmeBrian Morton Show (BBC Radio Scotland)John Miller has also been doing a number of regional radio interviews to include: BBC Three Counties Radio, BBC Radio Kent, BBC Radio Solent, BBC Radio Berkshire, BBC Radio Leicester, BBC Radio Northampton, BBC Radio Jersey, BBC Radio Norfolk, BBC Hereford & Worcester, BBC Yorkshire & Lincolshire and News Talk 106 (based in Dublin), LBC, BBC Wiltshire Sound, BBC Radio Newcastle Press interviews with Peter include:G2 interview in the Guardian (23 September)The 'Lunch With...' slot in the Financial TimesMail on Sunday ('Roots' interview in Night & Day)Woman's Weekly magazine (to run in December)Lady magazineTES (My Best Teacher Slot) (11 October '02) TV interviews were on BBC 6pm News (audience of 8 million)Open House with Gloria Hunniford (Channel 5) John Miller was also interviewed by Reuters. There has been a big interview in the Daily Telegraph with Peter Ustinov, about tennis, which whilst it doesn't mention the book is nonetheless great coverage. There was also a large interview in the Independent on Sunday (21st July '02). He's also completed the 'Best Day of My Life' feature for the Daily Mail and an interview in the Observer. John Miller will also bedoing some solos events about Peter Ustinov, and these include a talk at theLaurence Studio Bookshop in New Alresford (27 September) and a talk at the Guildford Book Festival (28 October). Reviews have started coming in and are very positive... 'Along with the anecdotes, Miller, manages to convey Ustinov's serious preoccupations with human folly and his attempts to promote intelligent international discussion....Of course, he is above all a brilliant entertainer, but he is more than that and this book conveys it...'Peter Lewis, Daily Mail 'John Miller is a sympathetic and intelligent chronicler of thespian extravagance...'Simon Callow, Sunday Times 'Miller is a paintstaking biographer and he digs deeply in the psyche of the great man...If you only buy one theatrical biography this year, I urge you to make this your choice!'Amateur Stage 'John Miller is an intriguing biographer who writes the entire affair with a contemporary edge...In absolute contrast to most biographies written today, Miller's book attempts to crush a massive story into a relatively short text. The result is a dizzyingly speedy tale, hurtling through an extraordinarylife. To read more than three pages and not become addicted is simply impossible.'Mick Middles, Manchester Evening News '...very funny in places...'Tom Widger, Sunday Tribune There has also been a review in the Sunday Telegraph by --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

As actor, playwright, screenwriter, director, novelist, historian, and raconteur, the name of Peter Ustinov is one to conjure in the worlds of theater, film, television, and opera. Born in England in 1921, he wrote his first play at 20—he has since had over a dozen produced. As an actor, his films include Spartacus and Topkapi—with Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor—Quo Vadis, Death on the Nile—one of three appearances as Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot—and Billy Budd, which he also wrote and directed. Recently, he has directed operas in every major house in Europe, and his one–man show, An Evening with Peter Ustinov, has been a hit in London and on Broadway. He has published novels, and in his 80s, he has become an ardent human rights campaigner. Now John Miller tells the story of a man who has been delighting the world for more than six decades. Miller is the biographer of Ralph Richardson and Judi Dench; he also collaborated with John Gielgud on his memoirs, An Actor and His Time.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Orion Publishing (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752842625
• ISBN-13: 978-0752842622
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,112,234 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kirkus Reviews is way off!, February 18, 2005

By 

A reviewer (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Peter Ustinov: The Gift of Laughter (Hardcover)

"Another conscientious text that plods through its subject's life yet misses the insights that really inform ... Despite many appreciative testimonies and anecdotes from colleagues, Ustinov remains elusive under his many hats. More a résumé than a life. For diehard fans only."

Sorry, Kirkus, but I would love to read anyone's résumé if they all read like this one. It's amazing! True, as an authorized biography, it doesn't go into gossip. But Ustinov's intensely anti-autocratic mind is impossible to hide, anyways, so you hardly come away without knowing his thoughts on life. The book is incredibly funny and full of gorgeous language. Entire worlds like the theatre and the military form in your head. The world of Ustinov's family and lineage, of cavalier aristocratic fathers and disappointed sons, can be very moving.

As for Ustinov, he was deeply anti-cruelty, which is more controversial than you think. He wrote political satires and white-hot letters. He came to expect rejection from heads of state and entire countries ... and was sometimes deeply surprised by them. There are loads of unexpected anecdotes here, such as how Ustinov unwittingly changed Admiral Nimitz's mind about writing his autobiography. (Impressive stuff, but more importantly, Nimitz himself is quoted here. There is a moment where you sense just how saddened by war the man possibly was.)

It seems everyone has a chance at speaking in this book. Interestingly, that was precisely the criticism that was given of Ustinov's plays. They were long. Verbose. Brilliant but shapeless. They were actor's vehicles. And never a vehicle for just one actor at a time, either. Ustinov, not a fan at all of the heavy touch from the director, tended to refuse calls for cuts, or when he did cut, the plays simply grew long again as the actors had fun with their improvisations. Ustinov was beloved by the actors in his plays. But reading the review excerpts, you see how critics gave him his chances, but ended up frustrated.

The fact that Ustinov's own meetings with actors (especially famous ones) are depicted as utterly outrageous and hilarious, is a reminder that Ustinov is telling the stories here to the book's author. Still, outrageous is outrageous and hilarious is hilarious. Charles Laughton, Laurence Olivier, Hermione Gingold (making improper use of a sink), John Gielgud, Edith Evans ...
And there are fond recollections from Terence Stamp and others. Anegla Lansbury, who was only a kid when she met Ustinov. Ustinov was dating her sister, and Angela loved the way he used to leap into spouting nonsense languages. It may not seem very Lansburyish, but when Ustinov encouraged her to join the improvisations, she did heartily! Hardly the typical "As an actor, I was so grateful" story. Everyone is just a bit livelier in this book, it seems. They're more interesting. Possibly due to Ustinov's reminiscing, but the author writes more than well enough on his own.

It's a tremendous world that this man, Ustinov, lived in. He loved languages, accents, personalities, eccentrities, absurdities. Portions of those angry letters of his are quoted, as well. It's a valuable book, I really do think.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful man! A wonderful life!, October 24, 2003

By 

James Ford (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Peter Ustinov: The Gift of Laughter (Hardcover)

A wonderful actor I always admired, but had not really seem much of his work. BUT he's not just a talented actor, but a writer, director, public speaker... oh the list goes on... and he does it all so well!
Ever since I was young and with a group of other children got to hear his great reading of "Peter and the wolf,"(we sat there on cushons at his feet, great experience!) I've always had a spot in my heart for this jolly and warm human being.
My only regret is not seeing or reading more of his work, but I will rush out and try to find as much of his work as possible!!
I never realized how prolific he is, this book was an excellent insight into his life.